Corn-planter.



W. S. GRAHAM.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 9, 1912.

rammed July 8, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. MM /www COLUMNA PLANOGRAPN co..w^smNc'roN. D. C.

W. S. GRAHAM.

CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1912.

1,066,601 Patented July 8, 1913.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

INI/ENOR;

' W. S. GRAHAM.

CORN PLANTBR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 19'12.

1,066,601. Patented July 8,1913.

I 4 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. GJ @9.5 62 I f 55 A/ 5554/1745 6 k 155 l 4/41 49MTA/5885s: l -i a,

"UNITED @TATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. GRAHAM, 0F CANTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PARLIN AND ORENDORFFCOMPANY, OF CANTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CORN-PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8,1913.

Application led November 9, 1912. Serial No. 730,349.

To all 'who/n may concern Be it known that I, IVILLIAM S. GRAHAM, acitizen oit the YUnited States, residing at Canton, in the county ofFulton and State oi' Illinois, have invented certain new and useit'ulIn'lprovements in Corn-Planters, of which the following is aspecification, referw ence being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to corn planters and particularly to that type ofmachine in which a single kernel is dropped at a time into the runner,the seed-plate being driven from the carrying wheels through the mediumot a clutch thrown into operation by the usual tappet wire.

It has for its object the provision of new and improved means fordriving the seedplate so that either two, three or four grains oit cornmay be dropped in each hill as desired, means being provided iterchanging at the proper time from one driving gear to another withoutstopping the machine.

I-Ieretoiore ett'orts have been made to provide a seed-plate with threegears on its under t'ace, through any one of which gears the seed-platen'iight be driven tor dropping either two, three or Yt'our grains inthehill. In some instances the Vthree gears have been crowded inside et theperiphery of the seedplate,that is to say, the diameter of the largestgear has been smaller than the diameter of the seed-plate,-so that theseed were adapted to fall beyond the periph` ery oit the gears into theseedtube below. This has been objectionable, however, for the reasonthat in such eases it is necessary to provide a seed-plate ot' suchextreme size as to be impracticable. In other instances the three gearshave been placed outside ot the periphery oit the seed-plate,-that is tosay, the diameter ot the smallest gear has been greater than thediameter ot the seedplate,-so that the seed were adapted to fall insideoi' the smallest gear into the seed-tube below. In this ease diilieultyhas been encountered in various ways, such as being compelled to use agear-plate oi' abnormal size, ditiiculty in getting the teeth in thedifterent sets ot a practical size and ot the right multiples, andditiiculty in providing shittn ing means for the pinions so that theycould be moved from one set of teeth to another without getting thearrangement out of time.

I have provided a construction in which both the seed-plate and all ofthe gears are of a practical workable size, in which the teeth of thegears are all of proper proportions relative to the diameter oit thegears, in which the proper multiples are readily arrived at forattaining the dropping of two, three or four grains, and in whichprovision is made insuring a proper timing of the parts.

The means by which I have accomplished my object are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and hereinafter specifically de scribed. 'Ihatwhich I believe to be new is set l'orth in the claims.

In the drawi11gs,-l`igurc 1 is a top view, partly broken a ay, of the:trent trame ol the planter embotflying my improvements, showing theconnection to the rear frame ol. the planter and showing the check-rowerhead on the front trame; Fig. 2 is a tcp View, also partly broken away,showing the connections between the seed-shaft and the seed-plates atboth sides of the machine; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the gearplateby which the seed-plate is driven; Fig. 4l is substantially across-section taken on line 1in-i ot' Fig. l; Fig. 5 is substantially across-section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2' F G is substantially across-section taken on line G-G oi' Fig. l; Fig. T is an enlargeddetail, being a perspective view ot' the collar mounted upon theseed-shaft by means of which said seed-shatt is shi'tted; Fig. S is aview of said collar as seen 'from the left in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a centralvertical section through the seed-plate and its operating devices; Fig.l() is a bottom view oi the seed plate; and Fig. 11 is a top View o thebottom-plate.

Heter-ring to the several Figures ot the drawings in which correspondingparts are limlicated by the same reference cha meters,- 2O indicates themain shaflt ot the machine having carrying wheels Q1 keyed or other wisenon-rotatably mounted on said shaft at its ends. 22 indicates the maintrame ol`: the planter in which said sha'lt Q0 is journaled in anysuitable manner, the forward end ol' the shattQQ having pivotallymounted upon it the runner frame 23 of any suitable construction. 2iindicates the seed-shatt o't' the machine suitably journaled in abracket 25 carried by the :trame 2? and by bearings ybracket. 25 A and.otherwise suitably supported `in theI tront.frame23. Said. shaft32i-has .mounted upon each end atappet lever ,33 by which said shaft isvrocked in the ordinary vwell .known manner byzatappetowire .workinginthe check-rower yhead* 34, aswill bek read-ily understood. L

35 indicates a runner or furrow-opener, part-lyl broken away.y in; Fig.9, where; it is best shown, said urrow-openerbeing of any approved type.

3G=indicates a bracket mounted upon .the rock-shaft 32, havinganupwardly extending arm 37 and la .downwardly extending ar1n.38,. toeither arm ofwhicha spring l39 is` adapted tol be connectedat its.`irontI end, the rear endl otsaid springy .being connected toz the frontframef23. .Thespring {S9-serves to.i hold therock-shaft 32 inpositionwith the tappet lever in its foremost position,..as

-shown tin-Fig. l, when the spring is connecteditothe downwardly.extending arm V38, or tohOldt-he rock-shaft 32.in position with the.tappetA lever v33 in its. rearmost position whenever itis desired touse. the machine as .a dri-ll instead of asa'checli-rower.

All .of the parts; heretofore describedare .of-.wellaknown construction;and operation .and `it is believed to .be .unnecessary .to fur- .therydescribe vthem herein.

Coming now. to the `seed-hoppers and the mechanism: for 7driving theseed-platesA from the Iseed-.shaft 24, :40 indicates a: base-platesecured upony the! upper vend of the furrowopener 35nin any. approvedmanner, one of the bolts by whichl they -plate 40 .is secured inposition 1 in. the present construction being shown in Fig. 9 anddesignated 40a. .The bearings 126-27 for theseed-shaft 24are, in theconstruction shown, Vformed .integral with the base-plates-40. Said.base-plate 40 isaprovided about its centralpointwith a boss or ring 4lcircular in-shape forming the .bearing for the gear-plate 42.which isheld in .position .thereon-by aplate 43 which is secured to the ring 41and overlaps the inner edges of the gear-plate42.

44 indicatesv a plate, usuallytermed the bottom-plate, vwhich ispivotaflly .mounted vupon the base-plate 40 by meanszof a pin 45.

44G indicates a seed-plate. restingnpon the bottom-plate 44 and .heldthereby in. position after described.

.against the cut-oti= plate 47 upon which a hopper of any ordinaryconstruction is secured in any suitable way, as will be readilyunderstood. The saidcut-oii plate 47 is pivotally mounted by means or'arms 47a `upon the pin 45, one of said arms 47 being shown in Fig. 9.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 9, the gear-plate 42 is provided with three setsof gear teeth 48, 49 and A50, spaced thereabout at equal intervals fromeach other. In the const-ruction shown, there .are -eighteen ofthe teeth48,. twenty-four. of the teeth.49,vand thirty- .six of the teeth 50.

:.51 indicates openings throughthe gearplate.42,.onev of said openingsbeing, .as shown-finFig. 9, direct-ly. in almement with the.opening.52through the base-plate 44 and directly `in line with one of theseed-cells 53 of the seed-plate 46. As shown in Fig...3,

the gear-plate 42 is; providedwith twelve of' ysuch openings 51 spacedabout said plate 42 between. theieteeth 49 and. the' teeth 50. As lshownin. Fig.; 10, the seed-platev also. vis pro- -vided with twelveseed-cells 53 spaced equally about its periphery. rlhus one of theopenings 5l in the gear-plate42 is found directly beneath each ot theseed-cells 53 as said two Vplates rotate..together, asiherein- As .shownin.-.Fig. 9, the base-plate 40,;is provided withan opening 54therethrough directly inline with the opening-52 throughthe base-plate44.

Theseed-plate 46 is caused to rotate with the gear-plate.42 byA reasonof .lugs 55 extending from the-lower face of said seedplate, vwhich lugsare engaged by lugs 56 extending from the upper 'face ofthe. gearpla-te.42.

, Asbest shown` in Fig. 9, the bottom-plate 44rests at its rear edge.upon lugs 57 rising from the rear4 face of the base-plate 40. iT-hecut-oii2 plate 47 is-provided witha pivoted pin 58.at its rear edge thelower end of which iseadapted to be turned down into' engage- .mentwitha slot 59 in. the rear edgeof the base-plate 40, a thumb .nut G0screw-thread ed on the vlower end of the pivotedv pin 58 being :adaptedto be tightened. thereon. to hold the bottom-plate47 rigidly inposition.

As best shown in.Fig..2,theseed-shaft. 24

.is providedat one endwith two pinions `61--62 and at itsother end withtwoA ipinions (S3-64 .keyed in position Vthereon .and yrotatabletherewith. As shown in saidl*`ig..2, the pinion 62 is in engagement withthe teeth 49 of one of thegear-plates 42 and the pinion (34 is; inengagement with the teeth 49 of the other gear-plate 42. The ,pinions61-62-63-64 have six teeth each, wherefore, at each complete rotation ofthe-seedshaft 24.with thepinions 62 and -64 inA engagement withthegear-plates 42,;.as vshown in Figs. land 2, saidgear-plates 42 aregiven one-fourth of a complete rotation.

As will be readily understood, then, for each complete rotation of theseed-shaft 24 with the pinions 62-64 in operative position, threeseed-cells of the seed-plate 46 are carried over the openings 52-54 ofthe plates 44-40, three kernels of corn being accord ingly dropped bysuch operation. lV hen the seed-shaft 24 has been shifted laterally ofthe machine by the means hereinafter described so that the pinions 61-63engage the teeth 50 of the gear-plate 42, for each complete rotation ofthe seed-shaft 24 the gear-plate 42 is given a sixth of a rotation, thuscarrying two of the cells 53 of the seedplate 46 past the openings 52-54and dropping two kernels into the seed-tube. lVhen the seed-shaft 24 hasbeen shifted farther to the right in Fig. 2, bringing the pinions 62-64into engagement with the teeth 48 of the gear-plate 42, for eachcomplete rotation of the seed-shaft 24 the gear-plate 42 will be given athird of a rotation thus carrying four cells 53 of the seed-plate 46past openings 52-54 and causing four kernels to be dropped into theseed-tube.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the parts are in the position they assume whenthe gearplate 42 is at rest with the clutch by which the seed-shaft 24is driven thrown out of operation. As is seen from an inspection of Fig.3, the teeth 48-49 close to the pinion 62 are directly in linelongitudinally of the shaft 24 so that the gear 62 may at this phase bereadily slid into engagement with either the teeth 49 or with the teeth48. It will be understood, however, that if the seedshaft 24 wereshifted longitudinally of itself bringing the pinion 62 into mesh withthe teeth 49 and if said seedshaft 24 were given then a completerotation rotating the gear plate 42 onefourth of a complete rotation,thereupon the tooth 4Sn would be directly in line longitudinally of theshaft 24 with one of the teeth of the pinion 62. In that case it wouldbe impossible then to shift the seed-shaft 24 farther to the left inFig. 3, but when the seed-shaft 24 had been given one more completerotation giving the gearplate another quarter rotation, then the teethmarked 48b would be in position over the central longitudinal line ofthe seedshaft 24, whereupon the pinion 62 would again be in position tobe shifted to the left in Fig. 3. That is to say, the pinion 62 can beshifted from the teeth 49 to the teeth 4S only upon each alternaterotation of the seed-shaft 24.

Coming now to the means for shifting the seed-shaft 24 longitudinally ofitself in the front frame 23 of the planter for the purpose of shiftingthe pinions by which the gear-plate is driven as above described, 65indicates a short sleeve keyed or otherwise fixed upon the shaft 24,said sleeve being provided with two collars 66-67 spaced apart thereon.As best shown in Fig. 7, the collars 66 and 67 are cut away at one sideof the sleeve 65, the ends of said mutilated collars (B6-67 beingbeveled.

68 indicates a bracket mounted on the front cross-bar of the front frame23 and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. As shown in Fig. 2,the bracket 68 is provided at its upper end with an opening in which thesleeve 65 on the seed-shaft 24 is located and in which it is capable ofmovement laterally of the machine. 69470 indicate lugs extending upwardfrom the lower face of the opening in the upper end of said bracket 68.These lugs 69-70 extend into such close proximity to the seedshaft 24that the sleeve 65 is incapable of being moved laterally except when theseedshaft is in the position shown in Fig. 6 with the lugs 69-70opposite the point where the collars 66-67 are cut away. The sleeve 65is so adjusted upon the shaft 24 that the collars (i6-67 are in theposition shown in Fig. 6 when the clutch hereinafter described is in theposition shown in Fig. 4,-that is to say, when the said shaft 24 is notoperatively connected through the clutch to the drive-shaft 20 of themachine. As best shown in Fig. 2, the upper edges of the lugs (39-70 arebeveled to correspond to the beveling of the ends of the mutilatedcollars (i6-(i7.

7l indicates a pin passing through a suitable opening in the bracket GS,mounted upon the upper end of which is a lever 72 yieldingly presseddownward against the bracket 68 by a spring 73 also mounted upon theupper end of said pin 7l. The upper end of the bracket 68 is providedwith three notches 74-75w76, with any one of which the lever 72 isadapted to engage, the lever 72 being free to be shifted .from one toanother of the notches 74--7 5-7 6 when it is raised against the actionof the spring 73. As shown in Fig. 6, an arm 77 carried by the lever 72works between the collars 66--67 whereby a movement of the lever' 72from one to another of said notches serves to shift the seed-shaft 24longitudinally of itself. As will be readily understood, when the lever72 is in engagement with the notch 76 the pinions 6l and 63 will beengagement with the teeth 50 of the gear-plates 42. Then the lever 72 isin engagement with the notch 75 the pinions 62 and 64 are in engagementwith the teeth 49 of the gearplates 42, and when the lever 72 is inengagement with the notch 74 the pinions (l2-64 are in engagement withthe teeth 4S of said gear-plates 42.

As will be understood from an inspection of the drawings in connectionwith the above description, the lever 72 is capable of being shiftedonly when the clutch is out of operative engagement with the shaft 24and when the collars 66-67 are lin thev position 'shown in F ig. G.That-is to say,-after the 'clutch has vbeen thrown into operativeengagement with the shaft `.24 as hereinafter described, the seed-shaft24 cannot be shifted through the medium of the lever 72 until 'theseed-shaft has completed onel fulll rotation and the clutchfhas beenagain disenl 'gaged from the shaft 24. As will be further understoodfrom the labove description, if

the lever 72 `is carelessly thrown from one notch to another and leftstanding at an 'intermediate point without complete engagement with anyone off the notches, the

beveled end of one of the collars 66-67 will engage the beveled end ofone of the lugs 69-70'and throw the sleeve 65 and the seedshaft 24 inone direction or the other into operativeposition permitting the lever72 to assume complete engagement with one of said notches.

Coming now to the clutch mechanism by;

which the gear 29 and the sleeve 30 are:

4adaptedv to be brought into engagement with the' shaft 24, 78 indicatesa drum revoluble upon the shaft 24v and fixed upon\` the sleeve 30.I 79indicates a bracket feathered cr otherwisenon-rot-atably mounted uponVthe seed- 'shaft `24.

80 indicates a 'dog pivotally mounted upon `the bracket| 79eccentrically `of the drum 78.

81 indicates a coiled spring tending to hold said dog 80 in itsoutermostxposition.

y82 indicates a stud or roller mounted upon the free end of the dog`80'adapted to engage any onefof the grooves 83 on the inner pe- 'ripheryof the drum 78. As will be understood, when the roller 82 is in contactwith Yone of the grooves 83 of the drum 78 the rotation of said `druminthe direction indicated bythe yarrow in 4 will serve to ldrive theseed-shaft 24 in the same direction, such rotation of the seed-shaft 24subsisting until the roller 82 is withdrawn from the groove 83.

. 'Them-cans by which the roller 82 is thrown out of engagement with oneof the grooves 83 and at the proper interval permitte'd to assumeengagement again with another of said grooves 83 comprises an arm 84revolubly mounted upon the shaft 32 by .means of a hub- 85.

- 86 indicates a bracket iXed upon the shaft "32, 21 4Spring v87 beinginterposed between said bracket and the Jarm 84 tending to hold said arm84 turned to the limit of its motion in counter-clockwise directionrelative to the shaft32, as shown in Fig. 4. As indicated in'Fig. 5, thearm 84 is forked at its outer end, between the arms vof which fork thereis revolubly mounted a roller 88.

-With the clutch mechanism inthe position shown in Fig. 4 with theroller 88 rest- .ing between the end of the bracket79 and the dog 80and' thus holdingthe roller' 82 igoeaeoi `out of' engagementswith thegrooves "83 of `the drum78, the operation of the device is as follows:Vhen-a knot on the usual tappet wirev engages the tappet'lever 33'mov1ngsaid lever* backward"androtating the shaft 32 in-clockwise directionint'Fig. 4, the arm 84-and the `roller 88 are rotated out of engagementwith the bracket 79 vand dog 80, thus permitting the spring 81 to movethe roller 82 into engagement with one of the grooves 83 ofthe ldrum 78Vwhereby the drum 78, which is being rotated through the'medium of 'thesprocket chain 31,r0- tates the shaft24, rotating the seed-plate asabove described. Vhen the knot of'the tappet wire has passed out ofengagement withv the lever 33, the spring 39 rotates' the shaft 32 in acounter-clockwise direction in 'Figz 4 as above describedfbringfing ftheroller 88 to substantially the position shown in Fig.4. lhen the bracket79 lhas almost completed one complete revolution .about the shaft 24,the forward edge of said bracket 79 in 'the direction of itsl rotationis brought into contact with' the roller 88, moving the arm 84 in lacounter-clockwise direction `against'the action of the spring 87 ,the.roller `88 lfinally passing over the end of lthe bracket 79. The spring87^thereupon turns the arm 84 in a counter-clockwise directionforcmg thedog`80 1n va clockwise most position and holding the arm 84 out of thepath of rotation of 'the bracket 78 and the 'dog 80. In such case,thedog 80 has continuous engagement with' the drum 7 8,

` whereby the seed-shaft '.24 is 'continuously 4-driven while themachine'is beingdrawn along,fthe 'kernelsfdropping oneat a time for:yplanting a'- single kernel at a pointinst-ead of plantingl the .kernelsin hills. As will ybe readily understood, the distance' at 'which'the"kernels. are planted fro-m each other in drilling `depends 'upon therate of rotation of the gear-plate 42 relative to the 'rate of rotationofthe 'seed-shaft' 24. This of course is variable in drilling by theLuse of the lever`72 just as inthe use of themachine as a check-rower. l

y'So far as I am aware1 am ther first in the art toprovidea Vpluralityof rows of gear-teeth for A'driving a seedeplate,'be tween two rows ofwhich gear teeth is positioned the row of seed-cells which deliver thekernels to'the seed-tube, .and this construction is accordingly claimedbroadly,

inasmuch asv it enables me to attain av thoroughly practical workableconstruction overcoming completely the difficulties encountered in themany efforts heretofore made to provide a practical construction inwhich the seed-plate is driven by gears rotating with the seed-plate. Sefar as I am aware, I am the first in the art to provide a gear-plate,formed separately from the seed-plate and adapted to rotate therewith,with a plurality of openings one directly in line with each of theseed-cells of the seedplate, by which expedient I am enabled toaccomplish my object in the construction shown, and this feature also isclaimed broadly.

That which I claim as my invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent is,-

l. In a corn planter, the combination of a front frame, a seed-shaftadapted to be shifted longitudinally of itself therein, a seed-plate,connections between said seedplate and said seed-shaft whereby saidseedplate may be driven from said seed-shaft at a 'ate variable relativeto said seed-shaft, means for intermittently driving said seed-- shaft,a collar fixed on said shaft, means cooperating with said collar forholding said shaft against shifting, said collar being out away at oneside whereby when said shaft in a predetermined position said collar isfreed from said holding means permitting said shaft to be shifted, andmeans adapted to operate upon said collar for shifting said shaft.

2. In a corn planter, the combination of a front frame, a seed-shaftadapted to be shifted longitudinally of itself therein, a seed-plate,connections between said seedplate and said seed-shaft whereby saidseedplate may be driven from said seed-shaft at a rate variable relativeto said seed-shaft, means for intermittently driving said seedshaft, acollar fixed on said shaft, a lug on said frame adjacent to which saidcollar rotates whereby said shaft is held against longitudinal mo-vementrelative to said frame, said collar being eut away at one side wherebywhen said shaft is in a certain predetermined position said sliaft maybe shifted, and means adapted to operate upon said collar for shiftingsaid shaft.

3. In a corn planter, the combination of a front frame, a seed-shaftadapted to be shifted longitudinally of itself therein, a seed-plate,connections between said seedplate and said seed-shaft whereby saidseedplate may be driven from said seed-shaft at a rate variable relativeto said seed-shaft, means for intermittently driving said seedshaft, twocollars fixed on said shaft at a distance from each other, and a lug onsaid frame adapted to work between said two collars whereby said shaftis held against longitudinal movement relative to said frame, saidcollars being eut away at one side whereby when said shaft is in acertain predetermined position said shaft may be shifted.

4. In a corn planter, the combination of a front frame, a seed-shaftadapted t0 be shifted longitudinally of itself therein, a serai-plate,connections bet\\'een said seedplate and said seed-shaft whereby saidseedplate may be driven from said seed shaft: at a rate variablerelative to said seed-shaft, two colla rs fixed on said shaft at adistarn'e from each other, and two lugs 011 said frame between whicheither one of said collars is adapted to work whereby said shaft is heldagainst longitudinal movement relative to said frame, said collars beingcut away at one side whereby when said shaft is in a certainpredetermined position said shaft may be shifted.

5. In a corn planter, the combination of a front frame, a seed-shaftadapted to be shifted longitudinally of itself therein, a seed-plate,connections between said seedplate and said seed-shaft whereby saidseedplate may be driven from said seed-shaft at a rate variable relativeto said seed-shaft, two collars fixed on said shaft at a distance fromeach other, and two lugs on said frame between which either one of saidcollars is adapted to work whereby said shaft is held againstlongitudinal movement relative to said frame, said collars being cutaway at one side whereby when said shaft is in a certain predeterminedposition said shaft may be shifted, the ends of said collars where theyare cut away and the engaging ends of said lugs being beveled whereby ifrotation of the seed-shaft is attempted with the seedshaft out of normalposition for rotation the shaft will be forced by said lugs into normalposition.

G. In a corn planter, the combination of a front frame, a seed-shaftadapted to be shifted longitudinally of itself therein, a seed-plate,connections between said seedplate and said seed-shaft whereby saidseedplate may be driven from said seed-shaft at a rate variable relativeto said seed-shaft, means for intermittently driving said seedshaft, twocollars fixed on said shaft at a distance from each other, a lug on saidframe adapted t0 work between said two collars whereby said shaft isheld against longitudinal movement relative to said frame` said collarsbeing cut away atl one side whereby when said shaft is in a certainpredetermined position said shaft may be shifted, and means adapted towork between said two collars for shifting said shaft at the propermo-ment and for locking the shaft in such adjusted position.

7.' In a corn planter, the combination of a front frame, a seed-shaftadapted to be shifted longitudinally of itself therein, a seed-plate,connections between said seedplate and said seed-shaft wherebysaid'seedplate may be driven from said seed-shattfat a rate variablerelative to said seed-shaft,.

means for intermittently driving-said seedshaft, two collars fixed onvsaid shaft at a distance from each other,` a lug onsaid frame adapted towork between said two `collars whereby said shaft is held againstlongitudinal movement relative tov-said frame,

`said collars being 'cut' away atI one side whereby when said shaft isin acer-tain pre-4 determined position said shaft may ybe-shi-t- 'ed7 alever adaptedto work betweenasaid.

two collars for shifting'- sai-d shaft, andf .means for locking saidlever-y in adj-usted position.

8. Thefcombination; of a seed-plate having a plurality of seed cellsvarranged thereabout, and means for rotating said seedplate, said-rotatingimeans*comprising `a row of gear teeth arranged outside offsaidseed-i cells, another row of gear teeth arranged: inside of saidyseed-cells,andgears adaptedto mesh alternativelywith. -said rows ofgearv teeth.`

9. The combination of a seed-plate having f a plurality of seed-cellsarranged y concentrically about its axis of rotation, and means forrotatingfsaid seed-plate,- said rotating. Ameans comprising., ai .rowvof gear teethvarranged concentricallyabout thefaxis of `ro.-M tationotsaid-seed-plate atagreaterdis-- tancefroin the axis thanarewthe'seed-cells,` another row of gearteeth arranged concenktricalzlyabout the axisofirotation otsaid seedplateat. asmaller distance from:thef axis than I arev said i seed.- cellsfand gearsl adapted to mesh--`alternatively.- with: said rows of -gear teeth.

10. The combination ofaifseed-plate'liaving a plurality of seed-cellsarranged concentrically about its axisof rotation-,and

means `for rotating-said seed-plate,K said zro-z tating means comprisinga row ot .gear teeth arranged concentricallyabout the axis of rotationofl said. fseed-platef at raf'greater distance from the: axis thanvare-the-seed-cells.- another row yof4v gear teetharrangedconcentrically aboutE the: axisl of.I rotation yof` isaid seed-plate atasmaller distance .from the f' axis than are said seed-cells,a--seed-shatt,'

means for driving said yseed-shaft,- a pinionl mounted on said shaftadapted tobe brought into .engagement v withf the -teethi arrangedoutside otsaid seecl-cells,-and another pinion mounted on said. shaftadapted-.f to be brought into engagement `.with the 'teeth ar rangedinside of said seed-cells.A

11. The combination .of-a seed-plate havving -a plurality of seed-cellsvarranged Vconcentrically about its-axishof`rotation,l and-.f

means 'for rotating sa-id .seed-plate, said ro'- tating means comprisingy afrow ofgear teeth arrangedI concentrically5 about the axis :ot

rotation of :said seed-plate #at greater f distance -from ythe axis thanarethe seed-cells, another row'fof gear teetharranged -concentricallyabout `the axis-of rotation of said seed-plate at*` asmaller distancefrom the-- axis than are said seed-cells, a seed-shaft,

means for driving said shaft7` two-pinions mounted on said shait andspaced apart thereon, and means for shiftingsaid shaft` longitudinallyof itself for bringing said` pinions alternatively into mesh with 4sai-dtwo sets of gear teeth. f

12. The combination of a seed-'plate having. a plurality of seed-cellsarranged concentrically aboutits axis o-rotation, and:

means for rotating said seed-plate, saidrotating; means comprising a1row of gear fteeth arrangedconcentrically about the axis otrotationofsaid plate at a 4greater distance from vtheaxis `than-are theseed-cells, an,- otherrowt of gear teethiarranged at equal distancesapart concentrically about thefaxis ofrotation of said seed-plate at'asmaller;

distancefrom theaxis than vare said 'seedcells, a seed-shaft,-v meansforv driving said seed-shaft, two-pinions of equal size mountedonthe'seed-shaft' and spaced apart thereon; and means for shifting said-shai't 'longitudinally of yitself i'or bringingy said pinions aofikalternatively into mesh'vwith said two sets l of gear teeth.'

13.'. They combination of a seed-platey having f a 'plurality ofseed-cells arranged. concentricalfly about'its.+axis of rotationf, andvmeans for rotating said seed-plate, said :rotating means comprising-arow of gear teeth arranged atequal distances apart. concentricallylaboutf'the axis'ofvrotation ot-saidy seed-:plate at l a' greaterdistance from-'the' axisthan are the seed-cells, two vother rowsrangedoutside o said row-y of seed-cells ori for bringing thefother-of saidpinions into meshy withffeither-of the rows of gear teeth arrangedinsideof said row of seed-cells:

14:.; In -avariable seed-plateV drive,` the combination offarotatable-gear Vplate having a plurality .of openings vtherein arrangedf in: seriesabout its-.axis of? rotation',4 and means for driving saidgear-plateysaid drivingmean's-comprising a set ot'- gear teetharrangedsoutside of the rowof openingsin said-geanpiate,I another set ofgear'teeth;

arranged inside of said row of openings,

and gears adapted to mesh alternatively.

withy said rows 'of lgear teeth.

15. In avariable seed-plate drive, the

CIK

combination of a rotatable gear plate havof said row o'l openings, andgears adapted lng a plurality oi openlngs therein arranged to meshalternatlvely with said rows of gear ooncentreally about its axis ofrotation, and teeth. means for driving said gear plate, said driv-WILLAM S. GRAHAM. ing means comprising a set of gear teeth ar- Vtnesses:

ranged outside of the roW of openings there- A. D. GALLAGHER, 1n, twosets of gear teeth arranged inside WV. J. CoUL'rAs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

